St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-04-14
THE CHINESE QUESTION.

1dE CdINESE W. Els llON.
Req. 1. e. DaoinelI, d. d., in Oongregationalist
The last word on this subject is slow
to be spoken. The fiery, loud speak
ing partisans on both sides have rush
ed to the front and made themselves
heard across the continent. There is
large intermediate class, disinterest-
ed, intelligent, thoughtful, from whom
lite has been heard. They have lived
where they could study the Chinese
for years; they understand them and
their peculiarities they believe in
treating them well and doing them all
the good possible, and the conclusion
to which they come is that it is not
desirable immigration to encourage
To enable readers of the COngrega
tionalist to understand the position of
this large class, will state first what
they cOncede in reference to the Chi
nese, and then the reasons why they
think they should not be permitted to
come in great numbers.
l. They admit that they are, in the
main, peaceable, Industrious, faithful,
rarely paupers. They believe that
many industries could not be success
fully carried on without them; and
equally good and able to do as great a
variety of work, out doors and in,
could be found to take their place.
2. They disbelieve many of the
popular charges made against them.
They disbelieve that they are held in
peonage or any other kind of servitnde.
Women of bad reputation are some
times passed from one man to another
on money basis, as similar transac-
tiOns have been known to occur in
London or New York, in the case of
other races. In China the men may
sometimes be enticed to bind them
selves out as coolies to go to Peru or
Cuba, but have not been able to find
any proof that this practice has ex
tended to California. The men come
freely and work voluntarily. They go
when and where they please. Some
borrow passage money and g i've lien
on their wages till it is paid. Some
get into debt and are embarrassed, and
may even be restricted in their liberty
on that account, as other debtors often
are. But they are not slaves. The
Six Companies are societies formed
each to look after those coming from
it's own district in China. They well
come the new corners, take them to
their rooms, sometimes assist them in
finding work, keep track of them, and
send their bones back to China if they
chance to die, and for all this receive
fee. Membership is voluntary. They
exercise no such supreme and arbitra-
ry authority as the Knights of Labor
and the trades unions.
g. They do not believe that the
n IL.
public morals or scatter contagious
diseases. Not that there are not great
depths of corruption and sometimes
contagious diseases among them. But
an American must be already far gone
in vice before he can be attracted into
such sinks. There are ii thousand at
tractive "gates of help standing wide
open, not vigorously challenged by
law or public opinion, in our cities,
which must be passed by our youth
before they can reach one of these low
Chinese "gates of hell"
4. Moreover, they recognize the
political traditions committing us to
leaving open doors to foreigners, and
the awkwardness of closing them
against those of one nationality only.
They admit, too, the brotherhood and
the common redemption of men, and
whatever force there is in the ideal
right of those of one land to find IL
domicile in another.
5. And they are glad to acknowl
edge that no other class of foreigners
have responded more readily to relig-
iOus efforts in their behalf. True, more
has been done for them, in Christian
homes, Sabbath schools, churches, and
by missionary societies. But many
have been brought to Chrst-nOt less
than 600 in all the Protestant church.
es in California, though not more than
one third as many are now resident
bers.
Still, though they concede all this,
they believe Chinese immigration ought
to be restricted. This belief rests on
the peculiarities of the Chinese com
munities, rather than of the Chinese
men. If the Chinese came and lost
themselves in our communities, and
finally blended with them, they would
be unobjectiOnable in small numbers.
They live mostly, however, i'm com
munities of their own. The race at
traction is intense. They go reluc
family where enough of them do not
go to form fellowship. individuals |
out during the day return to
the community, if accessible, to spend
the night. If one is thrown by some
force far out, he soon be-
comes homesick, and pleads the urgent
necessity to return, as "his cousin |
him. The nature of the COM
munity is the one exceptional fact in
with them, and the one |
which calls for exceptional legislation.
This will appear from the following |
|. A Chinese community is cOmpOs-
ed almost wholly of men; few women,
Of any sort, cOme-nOt more than
three per cent. of the whole; and of
these only very small number are i'm
wedlOck. community of men, clus-
tered, left to their instincts and pas
,iOns, diversions and makeshifts, is not
\ natural and healthful element in our
civil system.
2. Those who come do not come TO
stay. Hence, they do not bring their
wives with them, and those who go
back to marry leave their brides at
nome. They come to make little
money, and then to go back and enjoy
t with their families.
B. They feel no interest i'm the de-
7elOpment of the country, or making
permanent improvements. They wish
% take all they can with them when
hey go, and leave as little behind as
possible of the results of their labor.
a. They fasten on section of "a city
n village, and make that forever Chi
lese. They may not own foot of I
and in it, or a building, but they last
ngly ALLEVIATE it from Americans. The
oriental clutch is on the soil itself. 1
The section becomes hotbed in which
male Chinese peculiarities crowd, TO- |